Missouri Partnership announces Steven Johnson as new CEO

• February 27, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

ST. LOUIS, MO – 02/27/2015 — The Missouri Partnership today announced that its board of directors has appointed Steven Johnson as Chief Executive Officer, effective April 6, 2015. Johnson joins the Partnership with more than 30 years of experience in economic development.

“After a thorough and deliberate selection process, the board of directors is delighted that Steve will lead the Missouri Partnership as the new CEO,” said chairman Duane Simpson on behalf of the Missouri Partnership board. “The board is confident that Steve’s leadership will bring vision, focus and a wealth of experience that will propel the Partnership and the state of Missouri forward in the years to come.”

For more than 25 years, Johnson has led regional economic development initiatives in communities throughout the Midwest and Southeast. Most recently, he joined the St. Louis Regional Chamber in 2004 and currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Economic Development and Market Strategies. He previously served in leadership positions with the Kansas City Area Development Council, as well as chambers of commerce in Mobile, Ala., and Jefferson City, Mo., his hometown.

“I am excited to join an organization with such a stellar reputation and important mission. We have a great team in place and I look forward to working with all of our partners throughout the state to build an even stronger Missouri,” Johnson said.

“Steve Johnson has earned the great respect of business and community leaders throughout the United States for his professionalism, integrity and customer focus. While the St. Louis Regional Chamber hates to see him leave our organization, we love to see Missouri gain a leader with such intellect, experience and perspective. I’ve enjoyed working with Steve and have come to know him as a smart, caring and trustworthy colleague,” said St. Louis Regional Chamber President & CEO Joe Reagan.

Subash Alias, who has been serving as the Partnership’s Interim CEO for the past two months and will return to focusing exclusively on his role as Vice President of Business Recruitment, expressed confidence in the Board’s choice.

“I have been friends with and worked with Steve for over a decade. He is a remarkable leader and is very well respected both in Missouri and around the country,” Alias said. “Steve is nothing short of a star in our industry. On behalf of my colleagues at the Partnership, we are looking forward Steve’s leadership as we continue our mission of marketing and recruiting businesses to Missouri.”

Johnson has been a Certified Economic Development Professional since 1989. He graduated from the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma in 1987 and received his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Harding University in 1979.

About the Missouri Partnership 

Formed in 2007, the Missouri Partnership is the principal business recruitment and marketing organization for the state of Missouri. The Partnership’s dedicated and experienced team collaborates with leaders around the state to deliver streamlined, comprehensive support domestic and international companies evaluating Missouri for future expansion.

The Partnership’s services include locating sites and buildings, compiling workforce data, facilitating government and regulatory meetings, determining incentive eligibility, coordinating labor training and identifying utility availability and costs. All services are provided free of charge. The Partnership is a non-profit corporation supported by the Missouri Department of Economic Development and the Hawthorn Foundation.

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